Cocaine Detox

Cocaine Detox and Withdrawal

A cocaine detox can be quite difficult because of the psychological dependency to the drug. Cocaine addicts feel as though cocaine has become a vital part of their wellbeing. Because cocaine impairs the brain’s impulse control, people often feel as though they have no control over their decisions and end up doing things based on urges or impulses, which ends up aggravating cocaine addiction and use. It also makes detox challenging without medical and professional help.

The psychological dependence on cocaine can be much more intense than the physical addiction and tends to last much longer. Some of the psychological symptoms of cocaine addiction include cravings, feeling as though cocaine is vital for daily life or particular tasks, obsessive thoughts about the drug, aggressiveness or irritability that occurs when the drug is absent.

Cocaine Detox and Withdrawal

Cocaine is a terribly addictive substance that is known for its tendency to make individuals feel high, euphoric, energetic and almost invulnerable. It has a horrific cost in the toll it takes on the mind and body, as well as the cost to society in lost lives and lost time due to addiction. As an addiction, however, one toll it takes is in withdrawal when individuals take that amazing first step to stop using.

Withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal from cocaine comes with its own challenges and dangers. While it may not be as deadly as other substances, it does come with many problems. Some of the withdrawal symptoms a person can expect include:

Difficulty concentrating, remembering or thinking

Fatigue or exhaustion

Anhedonia, or the inability to feel pleasure

Inability to experience sexual arousal

Depression or anxiety

Chills, tremors, muscle aches, and nerve pain

Suicidal thoughts/feelings/behaviors

Cravings

Changes in appetite

Sleep disruption

Restlessness or agitation

If you are experiencing these symptoms when you quit using cocaine, you may be addicted and need detox to help overcome withdrawal. Contact us immediately for assistance if you find yourself with symptoms from cocaine withdrawal.

Withdrawal timeline

While withdrawal is often thought of as the worst part of recovery, it is also a very brief and time limited. This will be a mercifully short time period for those seeking recovery.

The first symptoms will often be felt within 90 minutes of not using cocaine. One thing about cocaine is that it has a very short half-life in the body, it will be metabolized by the body and be out of the system within minutes to hours.

There are, however, other parts of withdrawal that will come later, over a little longer time. For cocaine withdrawal, symptoms will usually run for between seven to ten days. This means that you will likely be experiencing the traditional symptoms of cocaine withdrawal for that length of time.

Now, it is difficult to predict accurately how long the cocaine withdrawal period will last. One of the reason is that there are some variables that impact the symptoms. Some of the things that impact length of time of withdrawal symptoms include: how long a person has been using; amounts they have been using; what outside supports they have; and whether they have any co-occurring physical or mental health problems that may compound the drug or impede recovery.

Detox

Detox is the part of the recovery process focused solely on treating and supporting the person through withdrawal. There are two different kinds of detox facilities in general, a medical detox and a social detox.

A social detox is for people with less severe addictions, or who are unlikely to have any complications due to their cocaine use. Here, staff provide more emotional support and encouragement while helping to stabilize the clients in treatment there.

A medical drug detox is for people that may have a more severe addiction, or have other physical or mental health problems that impede the recovery process. Medical staff will be in the facility 24/7 for any immediate needs of clients.

In a medical detox, the person will be treated medically as well. They will likely be prescribed medication to help with the detox process. Although there is no specific medication to treat cocaine addiction and withdrawal, there are medications that can treat the symptoms of withdrawal. There could be sleep aids prescribed, or typically antidepressants that can help with the downward mood swing. Their job will be to work with each person, help stabilize them and support them through withdrawal, and encourage their continued treatment through the rehab system by going into inpatient treatment.

Cocaine detox and withdrawal can be a difficult time for anyone. If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, or struggling with your cocaine use, we are here to help. Please contact us immediately if you are experiencing cocaine withdrawal or would like assistance in finding rehab.

FAQs

Crack faq

What Can I Do To Help Someone Addicted to Crack Cocaine?

Get in touch with a dependable addiction professionals available 24/7. You will be talking to someone knowledgeable about cocaine abuse, rehab and recovery centres who can help you find a crack cocaine recovery program.

What Happens if you Take Crack Cocaine When Pregnant

Regardless of whether a drug is legal or illegal, using drugs while pregnant will have a direct impact on the fetus. For this reason, it is essential to avoid drug use during pregnancy if you want a happy, healthy baby. Specifically, crack/cocaine is unsafe for pregnant mothers and their fetus. If you smoke crack while pregnant, you are at higher risk of miscarriage. Also, your baby is at high risk for encountering developmental problems both before and after they are born.